I think it is safe to say that most people would have set some sort of goal at the start of the New Year. They may even have shared it with friends and family, or on social media to keep themselves accountable.
I am also quite sure that those of us who set goals, publicly or privately, did not set out to fail at them. But it is now the end of January. How has it been?
Have you managed to stick to the goals you set?
Yes? Great for you! Please keep it up!
Most Resolutions Are Not Kept
No? You’re in good company. It is said that 80% of people fall off their New Year’s resolution wagon by the second week of February. Another report said only 8% keep their resolutions.
Unsustainable Goals
There are a few reasons. One is that their goals aren’t really that important to them. The other (which is what I want to touch on) is because the steps required to achieve their goals is unsustainable in the long run. In other words, they couldn’t keep up with the changes.
My purpose in this post is to not to make you feel guilty, but rather, it is to remind you (and me) that slow, small and steady steps win the race.
Slow, Small, and Steady Changes
If you want to attain your goals, the changes and steps you take to get there must be sustainable. And to keep it sustainable, you need to go slowly and steadily.
Whether this is with regard to goals for health or homeschooling, slow and small changes made steadily over time are more sustainable than big changes that end up overwhelming everyone.
I will only touch on Health and Homeschooling in this blog post. Feel free to apply it to the other areas of your personal or family life.
Health Habits
If your goal is to be healthy for 2018, slow, small and steady changes are more sustainable than a 180-degree diet overhaul.
For example: Switching from white to brown rice. Doing it overnight will lead to a full-blown rebel situation if your family is in love with white rice.
Do the half white-half-brown combo first (or even ¼ brown + ¾ white) and then slowly reduce the ratio of white to brown rice.
Same with switching over from juice to water. Dilute the juice slowly over time. After a while, just stop buying it altogether.
Related Post Water: The Beverage of Choice for Our Large Family
Homeschooling Habits
If this is your first year homeschooling your child, go slow.
If you want to encourage independent learning this year, go slow.
Related Post Raising Independent Learners
Slow, small and steady changes in both cases allow your child AND you to adjust smoothly. Instituting multiple changes all at once is overwhelming for all.
Have a transition period
If you are taking a child out of school to homeschool him, consider scheduling a transition period. Your child needs to get used to you being the teacher and as well as mommy. And you have to get used to being the teacher/facilitator, on top of your other roles.
If you are trying to get your child to be more independent, offer to sit with her but do not help her with her work during the transition period. And make sure that the work assigned is at her level or even a little lower to build up confidence.
Keep At It
As creatures of habits, we naturally resist change. To lessen the stress load, and to make the changes stick, small changes, made slowly over time is better.
Then, we have to KEEP AT IT. PERSEVERE. Do not keep tweaking the system you set up. Stick to the changes for at least 3 months, if not 6. Only then should you make your tweaks.
The Tortoise and the Hare
We all start out enthusiastic – new year, new beginnings.
But remember the story of the Tortoise and the Hare. Who won in the end? The one who plodded along slowly, taking small steps and steadily moving forward. Remember also, it is not how you start that matters but how you finish.
Slow, small, and steady steps for the win!
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